When Pat Robertson called for the assassination of Hugo Chavez, I was hoping that the Press would take the trouble to describe Chavez’s accomplishments since his last referendum and educate Americans on the nature of the man and his reform movement in Venezuela’s society that favors aristocracy over the poor.As usual, I was mistaken.Our Press does not deem such educational material relevant because it deals with people who do not matter to most Americans. They only matter now because Venezuela holds large reserves of oil.
For the record, Chavez is the legitimately elected President of Venezuela.He believes in empowering the poor who have been sent to the back of the bus literally by the aristocracy in Venezuela .That aristocracy tried to stop Chavez from implementing his land reform program and his program to bring education and health care to the poor using oil revenues that have been used as piggy banks by the rich in Venezuela.He has put the oil companies on notice that they have to pay increased royalties for the oil, pay their taxes fully and if they have been evading taxes in the past they will have to make restitution.These are not designed to endear him to the Robertsons, Bushes and the Exxon/Mobils of the world.
Because venezuela also own the Citgo corporation in the U.S. it has announced a program to subsidize gasoline costs for the poor in the US and provide medical care to them.That is going to rile up our medical and drug establishmentarians, who believe in ever more costly drugs and procedures beyond the reach of most ordinary Americans.The model Venezuela has adopted is based on the Cuban system which believes in preventive medicine that also includes providing clean water and public hygiene as part of a public health program.
It is clear that Chavez poses a danger to the Robertson/Bush version of Democracy.If his vision spreads,Latin America will no longer be the playground of the US.And that could well spread to Asia and Europe.
This is why Chavez must be stopped. Watch the right wing shills launch their demonization program this week.
The more I read and hear about Chavez the more impressed I am, Pacifica radio has had some good coverage on the coup attempt, the “strike”, the second election and so on.
And I believe he still does a weekly radio address where he actually answers phone in questions? I mean, talks to the people who elected him? I know that’s not a huge point in contrast to the economic reforms but still, a nice plus.
If there is one thing this country can’t tolerate it’s a true democracy anywhere in our area, look what we’ve done to Haiti for having the gall to try that. I think the powers that be are terrified that it might give us ideas.
Chavez has turned the tables on the landed aristocracy in Venezuela which had always sneered at the Negro-Indian poor of the country.Yes, their problems are also racial to a great extent. Chavez who belongs to that poor masses, decided that he was going to improve their lot, using the country’s resources, mainly oil. This is what they did not like and mounted a coup that failed miserably.When they got a referendum to recall him, he was relected by a resounding margin. Talk about being democratically elected!
Already Chavez has has transformed Latin American politics for good.Gone are the days when Nixon and Kissinger could talk about reversing Allende’s election because the Chilean people do not know what they are doing. Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador and Paraguay are now firmly in the Real Democracy Movement ,not a good prospect for American style “Democracy” that favors corporate imperialism aided and abetted by the entrenched aristocracies.